Police: Woman Knocks Down Sexual Assault Suspect in San Jacinto

A woman who was being sexually assaulted by a man in San Jacinto punched the guy in the face, "incapacitating" him, sheriff's officials reported Thursday.

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon, in the area of State Street and W. Esplanade Ave., according to sheriff's Sergeant Rose McKinney.

It all started with another suspected sexual assault, when Joshua Eugene Hernandez, a transient, allegedly approached a woman in a parking lot, according to McKinney.

"The investigation revealed that a white male adult approached an adult white female in a business parking lot, and sexually assaulted her while she was sitting in her vehicle," McKinney said.  "The victim's male friend came to her aid and was threatened by the suspect, who stated he had a gun."

Hernandez then apparently fled the area, running into a nearby business were he began to again assault a woman— but she fought back, according to the sergeant.

"This female victim defended herself by striking the suspect in the face with a closed fist, momentarily incapacitating the suspect," McKinney said.

She apparently hit the man square in the face at least three times, sheriff's officials told Patch.  The man was knocked to the ground, and was there when police officers rushed in moments later.

Police officers got to the scene and arrested Hernandez, and he was taken to the Banning jail and booked on suspicion of attempted rape and making terrorist threats, according to jail records.

As of Thursday, he was being held in lieu of $55,000 bail, records indicated.